The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-07-29

AN EXCELLENT LAW.

The recent Illinois Legislature
passed a single enactment. which, if
enforced, is alone Of vastly more ina
portance to the State than the ex-
penses Of the entire session. and OF
the election in which members were
chosen. We refer to the law prohib-
iting the sale OF tooacco an any form
to those under I6 years of age, with
heavy penalties for violation. The
only objection is that the age was
not placed vt 81 instead Of 10, so as
to cover the period of development
and growth.-Whatever may be the
effect Of tobacco upon the human
system after it hos obtained it's full
maturity, there Is, and can be no
doubt that the absorption Of nicotine
in tobocco, with It's disturbance of
the salivsry and other organs. is
positively Injurious in the nascens
period. The writer will remember
while he lives the death-like sickness
experienced when a boy upon the
farm, from the simple attempt to
light hired mans pipe at burning
stump, and bring il to him, a iii stance
OF only a dozen rods or 80. Though
bat fow whiffs were taken, Just
enough TO keep 1t from going out.
the almost instantaneous results were
severe retching, vomiting, faintness,
and fear of immediate death. Such
violent effects show very clearly the
aotural repulsion to the weed, though
in these days, the cigarettes. contain.
ing slight percentage Of tobacco
.(better if they had more tobacco and
less poison). chable boys to accustom
the system to poison by such slow
degrees that they ore not aware Of
the power it is gaining over them.
When the muscles, the nerves, and
the tissues have all acquired their
full growth, and become fixed for
life. which occurs at about twenty
Eve years, the effect Of tobacco and
other narcotics are less marked, and
no doubt there are exceptional cases
where a moderate amount Of them
may not be harmful, but the contrary.
But tobacco, coffee, tea, alcohol, eY-
en- in the mildest and smallest amount
In beer, termented cider, etc., should
meyer DO habitually taken, &c at all,
even in small quantity. until tho sys-
TEN has acquired its full development.
lfthey are used there never can be
perfection Of body, mind, or health.
There is either a stimulating or
soothing influence derived from cot.
fee, tea, spices. ETC., which sometimes
may be even useful in mature years;
hat such benefit can not be obtained
II the system becomes haoituated to
them in youth and early manhood
There are exceptions to all general
rules, but it may be set down as a
positive fact that of those who use
coffee, tea: tobacco, the stronger
spices, alcohol. oven iu simple beer,
before 81 to 25 years old. not one in
a thousand maintains health, and Vie
gor Of body and mind beyond the age
Of City. though there is a small per
centage of those who only moderately
use some Of these stimulents and
narcotics, if begun only after full
maturity, who maintain their mental
vigor fairly up to three score or more.
We frequently hear that such and
such an one, using alcohol or tobac-
60 continues vigorous to extreme old
ago, but these are very marked ex-
eeptlonA. numbering not one In q
hundred thousand.
Physicians Of large experience and
observation tell US that, as a general
rats, scitA very .sare exceptions, boys
who take tobacco, even in the mild
est form Of cigarettes, are partially
staunted in growth; that their lungs
are not properly developed and strong
that they tend to iistlessness, NOR
bidness, and mental weakness; their
slccp is anrefreshihg; habits destruc-
tive OF virility are promoted; that
the motor nerves are weakened as
we'll as the muscles, and that much
physical effort is next to an impos-
sibility; that the imaginations, is dis
torted and Authorizations, whims and
false views of life are thus 4induced
Similar results are produced by cof-
fec and tea, though generally less
marked and violent because these
are taken but once, or at most twice
a day, aud the system partially recu-
perates from the i'll effects. between
each partaking of them, providing
lhe youth has inherited natnrally a
strong, vigorous, robust constitution.
So far as this new law shall re-
strain or prevent the sale of tobacco
70 minors. by so much will 1t tend to
increase the manliness, the health,
ahe vigOr, tho general physical and
mental efficiency of tho rising gener-
alton, those who are SO soon to be
the active and acting citizens of the
commonwealth.
AS to cigarettes, which are now
made and used in countless millions.
they are not only "nasty''---the only
at